Bicycle steering device.



#atenten Apr, 2, |901.

.1. H, GRAHAM. BICYCLE STEERING nsvlca.

4(Application led Feb. 16, 1900.) (No Model.)

rre raras" Arnr Price..

JOSEPH H. GRAHAM, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BICYCLE STEERING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 671,049, dated April2, 1901.

i Application filed February 16, 1900. Serial No. 5,423. (No model.)

To all whom t ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Allegheny, cou nty of Allegheny, and State ofPennsylvania, have, invented certain new and useful Improvements inBicycle Steering Devices, of which the following is-a specification.

In a previous patent, No. 638,112, issued to me November1 28, 1899, fora bicycle I described and illustrated a frame within which the rider satand which was used as a substitute for the handle-bars ordinarily usedfor steering a bicycle. In that patent the Side bars of the frame wereshown as capable of lateral or horizontal movement to permit the riderto mount and dismount. In the present application I show two types offrame, in neither of which are the side bars laterally movable, but havea rocking vertical movement. In one of these types the entire frame canbe swung upward, being pivoted at either the forward or rear end, asdesired, th us permitting the rider to get on or oi the saddle. In th'eother of the present types no rear crossbar is employed; but anequivalent therefor is in front of the rider, and the side bars areextended back only to a line substantially even with the rear end of thesaddle, so that the rider can mount and dismount without beinginterfered with by the frame. Both of the present devices secure thesame advantages as attained by the bicycle of my iirst patent-viz., anerect position of the rider, a more powerful action of the legs, and afreer movement of the knees, particularlyin turning, than is secured bythe use of the handlebars that move horizontally. Mysupplemental framealso stitfens the general frame of th bicycle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a view, partly in section andin perspective, of the steering-frame and my attachments on a bicycle.Fig. II is an enlarged vertical section of the front support of thesteeringframe. Fig. III is an enlarged vertical section ofthe backsupport of the steering-frame. Fig. IV is a perspective view of amodiiied form of steering-frame and supports.v

2 is the steering-head of a bicycle; 3, segmental gear meshing with gear3, 4, shaft connecting segmental gear 3 and front support 5.

6 is a loose collar surrounding the front bar 7 of my frame, shown inFig. II in the support of the steering-frame. Bar 7 is held in positionby pins 7 7a. 8 and '9 are side bars, bar 9 not being shown in Fig. I.

10 is the back bar of the frame, of which the square-faced portion 11 issecured in support 12 by means of automatic latches 13. (Shown in Fig. Ias separate latches and iu Fig. III as connected together.) Support 12is connected by means of journals 14 to vertical flange-head 15, andspring 16 is connected to iianged head and steadies support 12. Stem 18is secured in slot through T-head 19 by means of set-screw 20.

The use of the machine is as follows: The rider releases latch 13,allowing the steeringframe 7, S, 9, and 10 to be raised on the front end5 as a pivotal point. The rider brings the frame down as he mounts, theautomatic latches 13 securing the rearbar 10 of the frame in backsupport 12. The rider, beingmounted and having hold of each side bar 8and 9, now has full command ofhis machine. If he wishes to go to theright, by slightly pressing downward on bar 9 he causes front support 5to communicate the movement to segmental gear 3, which is meshed inbearing 3a. The movement of segmental gear 3 partly rotates gear 3a,thereby steering the front wheel to the right. The reverse movement ofthe above would canse the wheel to turn to the left. The position therider assumes is to sit erect, so that he can get the full benefit ofhis muscles without injury to his body. The front and back supports 5and 12 allow the side bars 8 and 9 to be held firmly at the side of thebody. The rider can put more pressure on the pedal, as while pedalingthe downstroke. he can be lifting upward on the handle-bars 8 and 9,thereby bringing into play all his muscles. The spring 16 keeps thesteeringframe 7, 8 9, and 10 from being too sensitive to pressure by therider while holding the bars S and 9 when the machine is in motion.

In Fig. IV the side bars S and 9 are intended to reach to a line withthe back of the saddle 21. The equivalent ofthe rear bar 1() is shown insupport 22. The support 22 partly sur- IOO . front support 5.

rounds the extension-shaft 23, which is 'similar to shaft 4 in Fig. Iand performs the saine functions, with the addition of affording arocking seat for the support 22 and shaft 23, being in turn supported4by means of vertical brace 24. Latches 13 13 are shown on the Part ofshaft 23, segmental gear 3, gear 3a, and steering-head 2 are surroundedby frame 25. Frame 25 is secured to the front tube 26 of thebicycle-frame and holds the inclosed steering parts in position.

In the device of Fig. lV the rider is not supposed to raise and lowerthe handle-bars vto mount or dismount, as the rider can enter at andleave from the rear of the frame.

I have only shown and described a few of the many ways of vadjustmentand location of the minor parts of my device, which are subject tochange and modification by those skilled in the art to which thisappertains.

The device of Fig. IV could in addition to the present supports havesupport l2 attached to T-head 19, and steering-frame 7, 8, 9, and 10(shown in Fig. I) substituted for bars S, 9, and 10, thereby giving anadditional support to the handle-bars.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a bicycle steering device,the combination of a front cross-barco'nnected Ato the steering-head,side bars connected to and extending from the ends of said cross-barrea-rwardly past the saddle, and a rear cross-bar g connecting the rearends of said side bars, the Whole constituting -a 'fri-aine and meanswhereby the frame is permitted to rock verl tically on an axissubstantially vparallel to the l length of the bicycle.

2. In a bicycle, the combination of a front E cross-bar connected to thesteering-head; side bars extending rearwardly from said fronticross-bar; a rear cross-bar connecting the rear ends of said side bars;and a support for saidV rear cross-bar which permits vertical rockingmovement of said rear cross-bar, said support being detachably connectedto the bicycle-frame.

3. In a bicycle, in combination, a steeringhead; a front cross barextending transversely of the frame of the bicycle at or close to thesteering-head and directly engaging the steering-head and adapted by avertical rocking movement to actua-te the same; a iront Jframe member; abracket or support extending from said front frame member and adapted tosupport said cross-bar; and side handle-bars having operative connectionwith said front cross-bar, said handle-bars being arranged 'lengthwiseof the frame of the bicycle and having a vertical rocking movement on anaxis substantially parallel to the length of the bicycle.

4. In combination with a bicycle, side handle-bars having a directconnection with the steering-head ofthe bicycle and adapted to actuatethe same', said vhandle-bars extending i rearwardly from the head; arest-barpivoted on the 'frame between the saddle `and steering-headfandextending transversely of the frame; and a support at each end of saidrest-bar for each of said handle-bars, upon which supports the saidhandle-bars may be given a vertical rocking movement on an axissubstantially 4parallel to the length of the bicycle.

Signed by me at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, g5

ythis 9th day of February, A. D. 1900.

JOSEPH H. GRAHAM. Witnesses: ALFRED IV. BEATTY,

WM. L. PIERCE.

